Press Releases

JA Solar now shipping rapid shutdown compliant smart modules optimized by Tigo Energy

First and only solar company to achieve this recognition for its products

SELFRAG, a specialist in high voltage pulse power fragmentation, has joined
forces with ALZTEC, provider of silicon processing systems to create a new breed
of silicon rod crusher that minimises both waste and contamination. The first
system will be delivered to a major customer at the end of 2014.

As a leader in the global drive to support universal access to modern sustainable energy services, the European Commission launched a profound examination of a new financial instrument with a particular focus on rural electrification.

AWS Truepower, LLC, a leader in renewable energy consulting, today announced changes in its executive management to enable its growing global business.

The European Commission could shortly announce that it will approve the UK State Aid for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant. In order to be serious about competition in the energy sector, EPIA believes that it is vital to maintain a balanced approach towards the different energy technologies.

Further expansion of the Packages sun2roof PV installations

Online Auction selling approx. 100 lots of a complete and unused solar thin film production line

NetSuite Inc., the industry’s leading provider of cloud-based financials / ERP and omnichannel software suites, has announced a number of new solar industry customer wins as businesses have adopted NetSuite’s cloud business management solution to power growth in the rapidly expanding solar market.

Berlin/Germany, Vilnius/Lithuania, October 1, 2014 – The EU project SmartFlex has announced the completion of a production line for manufacturing individually designed solar facades on an industrial scale. The factory belonging to the project partner Via Solis will, from now on, manufacture photovoltaic elements of varying shapes and colors that architects can use to realize their visions. In addition to producing rectangular modules, the production line can create square, triangular and round modules in any RAL color. Located in Vilnius, Lithuania, the factory has a production capacity of 50 megawatts (MW) and is powered using 100 percent renewable energy. A total of 37 million euros was invested in building the PV cell and module production line.

“Architects repeatedly find that their designs for solar facade elements are either technically impossible or too expensive to implement. Our production line is set to change this and will even allow unusual solar facades to be constructed,” explains Rimvydas Karoblis, CEO of Via Solis, a Lithuanian solar systems manufacturer with subsidiaries across Europe. “We decided to use highly innovative production methods: Thermo sealing with butyl, for example, ensures that our crystalline modules last for a long time.”

The factory is able to produce modules measuring up to 1.7 meters by 3.5 meters with a maximum output of 750 watts peak. A variety of colors are created by using differently colored module glass, laminating films or solar cells. The glass may also be screen printed, while digital printing technology can, for example, even be used to apply a photo to the entire facade.

“Via Solis uses the colored, semi-transparent solar glass that has been developed by the innovative glass manufacturer Glassbel and is already used in standard glass facades,” states Dr. Juras Ulbikas from the Applied Research Institute for Prospective Technologies (ProTech) in Vilnius, who is coordinating the SmartFlex project. “The data relating to the required shapes, colors and sizes of the solar elements is directly transferred from the architect’s planning software to the production line.”

Firstly, the front and rear glass panes of the module are cut to the necessary shape and size and a layer of PVB film is applied. Robots are then used to position the solar cells at desired intervals on the front glass pane in a process that also enables semi-transparent modules to be industrially manufactured. The procedure followed to connect the cells to form a string is also largely automatic. After this step, the second layer of PVB film is applied, the rear glass pane is put in place and the module is laminated. A microinverter makes the task of connecting modules with different outputs as straightforward as possible for the fitters.

The European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Innovation is contributing 2.9 million euros of funding to SmartFlex. In addition to Via Solis, Glassbel and ProTech, the project partners include the Photovoltaik-Institut Berlin, the mechanical engineering company Mondragon Assembly, the Swiss BiPV Competence Centre (SUPSI), the planning software developer Creative Amadeo and the specialist renewable energy agency Sunbeam Communications.

www.smartflex-solarfacades.eu

Contact

Vera Neuhäuser
Tel. +49 (0)30 – 72 62 96 465
neuhaeuser@sunbeam-communications.com
http://www.smartflex-solarfacades.eu/home.html